Countdown to Islington in Bloom

There is still time for you to enter the Islington in Bloom competition, this year being held totally on-line. All you have to do is send in one or two photographs of your entry. (maximum size in total 10-Megabytes). Deadline Sunday 5^th July.

Here is a reminder of the categories:

• Best front garden
• Best back garden
• Best house plant
• Best window box
• Best container garden
• Best children’s planting (14 years and under)
• Best tree pit 
• Best children’s garden drawing or model (14 years and under)

The categories for children are new this year and it would be great if we were to get lots and lots of entries – so get out those felt tips and all the cardboard and paper that you have been hoarding to craft or draw your special design – or have a go at making a mini garden in a seed tray or a flower pot. It only needs to last long enough to take the photos so you could use found or collected objects such as stones, shells, twigs, flowers and leaves pushed into some sand or soil to create your model garden.

If your children have been helping you garden during lockdown or have made their own garden, then get your camera or phone out and celebrate their achievements.

Here are some tips for getting the best out of your entries before taking your photos.

• Look at your garden area/container/tree pit/plant etc. through the camera before you take any photos to see which are the best angles, where the light comes from, to avoid any eyesore such as washing lines, buckets etc.
• Try this at different times of day to see which is best – midday in the bright sunshine is definitely not the best as it will reduce the colour.
• Aim to take lots of photos before choosing your best one or two to send in.
• Dead head all the plants you want to photo – it will make an immediate difference.
• The very warm weather has encouraged early flowering for a lot of plants and some have finished – many roses for instance. If you have a dull spot in a border or part of the garden, consider a quick brightener by planting up a container with plenty of colour or interest.
• Smarten up your containers by first weeding them then either adding some fresh compost or a mulch. I used pea gravel left over from an aquarium that we once had.
• Group containers together for more impact. Try re-arranging them to get the best effect. Connect the group together with a common theme – e.g. all or mostly terra cotta pots, or a plant that is repeated in different places – I love the little Mexican Daisy (erigeron karvinskianus).

So – send in your photos to inbloom@islington.gov.uk

Pictures must total no more than 10mb and you must specify which category you want to enter along with your name, and email address.

Deadline Sunday 5^th July.

Good luck!!